Lancashire FA has announced a two-year partnership with Garstang charity, the Adam Appeal. The partnership will see Lancashire FA help raise awareness of cardiac risk in young people and fund the distribution of lifesaving defibrillators. The Lancashire FA and the Adam Appeal will kick-off the two-year partnership in December, working closely together to invest in Community Access Public Defibrillators (CPADs) across Lancashire.
As part of the launch, the Lancashire FA and Hoole United FC have agreed to fund a project to help the Adam Appeal distribute 12 CPADs to grassroots football clubs. Working in conjunction with the North-West Ambulance Service, these CPADs will be placed in areas where there are no Automated External Defibrillators in close proximity. Experience shows that putting defibrillation within 3-5 minutes reach of a collapsed person, following a cardiac arrest, can see survival rates as high as 50-70%.
The Adam Appeal was set up in memory of 28-year-old Adam Swanwick, who passed away on 2 September 2012, following an acute heart attack, whilst travelling to sample his wedding meal with his fiancée, Louise. Louise and Adam’s sister-in-law, Pam, want to prevent other families going through the same experience, since following Adam’s death, they learned that a diagnosis of Adam’s condition or access to a defibrillator might have saved him.
The Adam Appeal aims to raise awareness of cardiac risk in young people, promoting screening in young people for undiagnosed heart conditions and providing training and defibrillators in public places in the North West of England.
Simon Gerrard, Chief Executive Officer, Lancashire FA, said: “Lancashire FA is proud to support the Adam Appeal and recognises the importance of raising awareness of the risk to young people from cardiac arrests.
“As part of this two year deal, Lancashire FA and the now disbanded Hoole United FC will fund as many AED defibrillators and CPAD housing units, which will be gifted to football clubs within Lancashire in areas where no registered defibrillator is located. Fundraising events will also take place in 2019, with activities and venues still being finalised.”
“We will also look to fundraise at all of our 20 County Cup Finals during 2019, especially since amateur football clubs that benefit from this equipment are being asked to pledge their support back to the charity by supporting these events.”
